PRIMAGAM® is an important tool for the surveillance of tuberculosis in primates. A major advantage of this laboratory-based test is that it is performed using a blood test, making testing far less stressful for both the animal and the veterinarian than the commonly used intradermal Eyelid Skin test.
Tuberculosis is a respiratory disease caused by the bacteria of the Mycobacterium family. It is a major infectious disease found worldwide in domestic animals, particularly cattle, as well as in certain wildlife populations. The most common way in which the bacteria spreads among animals is by coughing and sneezing. Monkeys in zoos and research colonies are highly susceptible because they have a much closer and prolonged contact with each other than those in the wild. This level of contact allows tuberculosis to spread easily from one animal to another. Monkeys are often also in close contact with humans which may be another source of infection. The presence of the disease in primates could also present a public health hazard as it can be transmitted from animals to caretakers in zoos and research laboratories.
PRIMAGAM® test is less stressful for the animal
The traditional test for tuberculosis in non-human primates is the intradermal Eyelid Skin test using a Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) of tuberculin. These skin tests can be difficult to interpret and their application and reading can be stressful both for the animal and the handler. Alternatively, Prionics PRIMAGAM® test is a rapid in vitro blood-based assay for identifying tuberculosis in non-human primates. The major benefit of using a PRIMAGAM® assay is that it is a laboratory test; therefore, the tuberculin PPD is not administered directly into an animal. This method prevents potential allergic reactions due to hypersensitivity to tuberculin PPD, meaning that test results are representative of an animal’s true immune status. Moreover, contrary to other used methods, retesting of suspect animals can be done immediately. PRIMAGAM® is used widely either in combination with, or as an alternative to, the intradermal Eyelid Skin test.
